JAMAICA | Opposition Senator Calls for Government Intervention in Ruthven Towers Housing Dispute

KINGSTON, Jamaica. January 28, 2025 - Opposition Spokesperson on Housing and Sustainable Living, Senator Professor Floyd Morris,  is urging the government to address escalating concerns over the controversial Ruthven Towers housing development in New Kingston.

Built by the National Housing Trust (NHT), Professor Morris is calling on the NHT to honor its commitments to homeowners, many of whom are grappling with unfulfilled promises and unresolved issues.

“From what I have read in the newspapers and from dialogue with homeowners at Ruthven Towers, a blatant travesty of justice is being meted out to these individuals,” Senator Morris stated. He emphasized that the NHT, as a public body under the portfolio of Prime Minister Andrew Holness, has a duty to treat its clients fairly.

At the heart of the dispute are promises made to residents regarding key amenities, including a swimming pool, jogging trail, clubhouse, conference room, and gym—features homeowners were told would be delivered by December 2024. However, according to Morris, the NHT has now delayed the completion of these facilities to 2028, leaving homeowners frustrated as they continue to make mortgage payments that include the cost of these undelivered amenities.

Adding to the residents’ grievances are reports of serious construction and infrastructure defects within the development. Senator Morris highlighted complaints of leaking roofs, faulty electrical works, bursting water pipes, lifting floor tiles, and poor door installations. He also noted that the area has been plagued by flooding during heavy rains, raising questions about the quality of workmanship on the project.

Professor Morris did not mince words in criticizing the situation, calling it “an act of injustice” that demands immediate intervention by Prime Minister Holness. “The Prime Minister is the Minister with responsibility for the NHT, and it is his fiduciary responsibility to ensure that clients receive fair and equitable treatment by righting this shambolic situation,” he asserted.

More than just a broken promise, Senator Morris said the Ruthven Towers project—marketed as a premium development—has become one of the most troubled ventures in the NHT’s nearly 50-year history. He has called on the NHT to provide financial restitution to the residents, including adjustments to their mortgage payments, until the promised amenities are completed and defects are remedied.

The Opposition Senator’s statements have added pressure on the government to respond to what many see as a growing housing crisis tied to public trust in the NHT.

-30-